How to optimize your Eurovision webcast viewing experience

[jawnbc]

Recently a viewer wrote:

Dear Dr. jawnbc,

 I am a wanna be Eurovision Kween™, but like you I live in a barbaric land where no broadcaster on cable shows this most awesomist of cultural experiences. I'm pretty sure it's homophobic, right?  Anyway, I watched the semi-final yesterday, but the picture was so small my head hurt afterwards. You have a party using the webcast every year--how do you avoid small streaming video head hurt?

Danielja Martinovic

Dear Danielja,

I am sorry for your pain, and the homophobia of your countrymen. But the internet gives us the power to overcome...contingent upon the proper combination of hardware, software and streaming content know-how.  Let's start by identifying the hardware you need:

1. A computer 
2. Broadband internet access using your ethernet port (turn the wireless off)
3. A good set of external speaker that can be plugged into your computer
4. A TV with a VGA/HDMI or DVI input (or an LCD projector)

In terms of software you need:

1. Firefox 3/Safari 3 or higher web browser
2. Adobe Flash plug-in
3. Octoshape plug-in
4. Windows Media Player (Windows PCs) or Quicktime with Flip4Mac (Mac)

Setup

1. Make sure you have all your hardware set up: plug your computer into an ethernet port (in the back of your wireless router, or directly from your ADSL or cable modem), connect to your external TV or projector, connect speakers.
2. Make sure all the software is installed.
3. Restart your computer
4. Change your monitor resolution to 800 x 600 (Apple menu/systerm preferences/Displays on Mac; Start/Control panel/Appearance/Settings on PC...I think)
5. Change your monitor to Mirror (rather than extend the desktop)
6. Launch Octoshape (may take a couple of minutes to boot up: it will appear in your upper tool bar on a Mac, in your lower right tool bar on a PC)
7. Launch your browser
8. Go to eurovision.tv
9. Click watch the final live (or something similar) link

A window should open with a tedious loop of Te Deum ("the Eurovision Theme"), and an advert (for a German bank). Use these to test your speaker volume.

You should see this on both your computer and the TV/projector.  Double-click the video loop and you should be in full screen.

Enjoy the show!